rowell



C. V. HOWELL. APPARATUS EoR PROCESSING GRAIN UNDER HIGH PRESSURE ANU HIGH TEMPERATURE.'

c. v. HOWELL. APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING GRAIN UNDER-HIGH PRESSURE AND HIGH TEMPERATURE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB.12, 1920.

1,395,014 I Patented oet. 25, 1921.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WAI/H c. v. HOWELL. APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING GRAIN UNDERV HIGH PRESSURE AND HIGH TEMPERATURE.

I APPLICATION FILED FEB. I2. T920. l

c. v. HOWELL. APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING GRAIN UNDER HIGH PRESSURE AND HIGH TEMPERATURE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. I2. T920.

1,395,014. Patented Oct. 25, 1921.

4 SHEETS--SHEET 4.

y same, certain the 'processing chamber,

UNITED sTATss 'r ries.

CHARLES VICTOR HOWELL, 0F CRQYDON, NEA-R SYDNEY, NEW' SOUTH W'ALES.

v AUSTRALIA.

APYARATU'S FOR-PROCESSING GRAN 'UNDER- HIGH PRESSRE ANI) HIGH TEMPERA- TUBE.

Lessors..

Specification of Letters Patent.

ral-.enten oer. resi.

Application filed February 12, 1920. Serial No. 358,136.

To all whom 'it may concern Be it known that I, @Hannes Vieron IlowiiLL, subject of the King` of Great Britain and Ireland, residing at VVaitakif Bobinson street, Croydon, near Sydney, New South Vales Australia, aforesaid, have invented new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Processing- Grain Under High Pressure and High Temperature, of which the followingis a specification.

This invention relates to apparatus for processing cereal grains for the production of cooked cereal food products therefrom.

The apparatus for operating the process comprises a processing chamber with means for supplying heat to it, and mechanical devices for closing it and for opening' it suddenly, and a source .of superheated high pressure steam with means for introducing it into said chambenmeans for evacuating gas and vapor fromsaid chamber, and accessory mechanical devices7 all of which are hereinafter described in detail.

In the accompanying' drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view Vof the processing chamber, showing the mounting means and-certain of the locking means for its closure;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the portions being shown in section; l

ld`ig. 3 is a fraementary elevational,v view explanatory of the means for releasing` the closure holding; devices, thereby to liberate the chamber closure and permit it to be blown open by pressure of gas contained within the chamber;

big. l `is a longitudinal vertical section, with the closure in locked position, set in readiness for introduction of superheated steam into the chamber;

Fig. 5 is a side sectional elevation correspondinn` with Fig'. 2, showing` the position of the closure locking parts when the `chamberis open; p'

Fig. Gis an enlarged front elevational view of'theapparatus with the chamber closure open as in Fig. 5;

Fig.

elosurelocking arms; y

Fig. 8 is asemi-diagrammatic view showing the completed apparatus, including the means for supplying` superheatted steam `t0 A 7 is a fragmentary sectional elevation. illustrating the detail of the mounting of the Throughout these drawings the same reference figures indicate identical Vor corresponding parts. l

The treatment chamber or receptacle is most conveniently constructed as a cylindrical barrel 25, terminatinn,` at its rear end in a base block 18 which is bolted down to the frames 14e-".15 which are set up on a bed 1. The front end of the barrel 25 is fitted into a muzzle block 12 which is formed with integral yoke arms which are bolted down to the forward upper parts of the side frames 'i4-d5, and with two heavy luejportious 29 which accommodatebetween them the lower portion of a hinge lug;` 27 on which the closure carrier 17 is fixed. A heavy pintle pin 28 is fixed in the lugsv 29, and a slotted hole 10 in the. lug 27 embraces the pin 28, the slotted form of the hole divina" liberty to the carrier 17 to adjust itself slightly in relation to the chamber mouth. The carrier 17 is formed with a central cup seating' 20 in which is set a spherical knuckle on the back of the chamber closure disk 1S. The central portion of the disk 18 is extended beyond its rim portion 19 which is concentrically serrated on its face, .and is tapered slightly to facilitate entry into the bore of the barrel 25 and center the serrations E9 in relation to gasket ring;` 24 of soft metal which is tightly fitted against the front end ofthe chamber barrel 25within a circular seating-formed by the muzzle block 12. so that when the closureis forced home a tight joint will be made capable of holding',I back a very high pressure of zdas within the chainber.- The knuckle mountinc'f of the closure disk 18 enables it to set squarely against tie `gasket ringa 24, notwithstandine,a that the carrier 17 is not -in parallelism with it, and a check bolt 21 which has freedom `of movement in a tapered hole in the carrier is provided to loosely retain the closure disk on the carrier. 22 are helical springs contained in pockets in the carrier and under tensional adjustment by back screws 28. These springs 22 bear against the closure disk 18 preventing any tumbling movement of it but leaving it free for self-adjustment against the gasket 24. The closure is held shut by a roller 41 carried on a yoke pin 42,'the ends of which are mounted in two trace arms or anchor links 32. `These arms or links 32 are Apivotally carriedattheir rear ends on eccentric trunnion bushes 33 which are rotatable on trunnion pins 31 'forming part of or fixed in the base block 13, 35 being a tace washer, and 36 a fixing screw by which the washer 35 is held incontact with cheek portion 34 ot the bush. The eccentric trunnion bush cheeks 34 are rearwardly extended to form arms 34X by swinging` which the rotational position ot the bushes on the trunnion pins is altered so as to virtually extend or shorten the arms or links 32. This adjustment movement of the arms 34X is eiifected by means ot the jack screw 38y which works through a tapped hole in the yoke pin 37 which connects them. The footstep ot the jack screw bears'in a seating-in the Vtable 39 which forms a connecting member ttor the under frame, and has a check screw below said footstep to prevent it .from coming out of said seating. The rotational adjustment of the eccentric bushes 33 is such that the roller 41, when the arms 32 are'raised and the closure disk forced tightly home, will be on the ramp faces 43 directly rearward of the cup bearing 2O in which the closure disk 18 is seated. Internal pressure in the chamber acting against the closure disk is thus directly resisted by the links 32, and said links are raised and held in the upraised position, forcingthe roller 41 against the ramp faces 43 and holding it there by means of the lifting and locking means associated with the lifting gear nextto be described.

Between the muzzle block 12 and the base block 13 the chamber barrel is sheathed with mica or other electrical insulating material capable of withstanding high temperatures, and' upon this sheathing' is wound a coil 70 ot resistance wire, the terminals 'f1-72 oi which are brought out through a heavy jacketing 73 of heat insulating material, such as asbestos. The convolutions ot the coil must be efliciently protected, in the manner well known in electrical practice, against risk ot shortcircuit. The terminals T1-T2 are connectedto a source of electrical current through a switch 83. The dimensions o't .the coil 70 are proportioned in relation to the currentpvalues, so that the)v will operate 'to maintain the chamber barrel 25' at Vthe appropriate temperature.

In practice, the barrel 25 may be ot any reasonable dimensions, but should be `of limited size, having regard to the high pressure to which it is subjected in use. I have obtained successful results'with barrel like chambers, 'similar to that illustrated, having diameters varying from three inches to upward of lsix inches and a length of siX feet. l

Particularly for chambers of a 'large type,

'the weight ofthe 'closurev disk and i-ts mounting and operating-,mechanism is so consider-able that 1t 1s not `practicable to move themmanu'ally, andinechanioal .IlleeIlS are therefore provided tor this purpose. A plunger (34 carried in a hydraulic cylinder (S3 is provided to effect the lifting movement. It ma)v be keyed against rotation in the cylinder 63 by aiixed pin 66 working in a slot 65. T he head GT of the plunger takes against the underside of the lifting yoke member the two lugs of which are re spectivelji' (onnected to the arms or links 32 by mea-ns of pins 111 workiirgin slotted eyes 'f 112 in said links. 45 are heavy helical springs carried on the yoke member 44 and positioned so that their top ends will abut against the ltoot piece 30 ot the muzzle block 12 when the plunger G4 is moved upward suiiiciently to litt the arms 32 to the position shownin Fig. 4. These springs operate to torce the yoke down very rapidly from the upper position indicated in Fig. 4 to the lower position indicated in Fig. 5 as soon as the locking device which holds it in the upper position has been released. The locking device by which the lifting yoke 44 and the parts sustained by it are held consists of two horizontally swingingchecking beams 49 mounted on pins 5l carried in b `ackets 50 on the trame cheek 1l. These checking beams 49 coact with the latch lugs 4G on the yoke member 44, spreading apart to allow said lugs 46 to pass upward between them. and immediately closing together vbelow said lugs when same pass above them, thereby to block the yoke from moving downward again until they are positively spread apart b v operating the releasing gear. They are normally held inward in locked position by two helical springs which are mounted in a carrier trame 52, and the)v are guided laterally by slots .'34 in the side trame member 15 through which they pass. Upon a spindle 5G mounted on the trame member 'l5 a cani 55 is keyed. rihis cam is shaped and proportioned so that when it is in one certain position (Fig. 2) the choiking beams 49 will come to the inward position, while when it is turned to a position angular thereto, the checking beams 4f) will be spread apart to offer clearance `for the latch lugs 46, thereby to allow the springs 45 to react and suddenlv torce down the yoke, withdrawing the roller abutment 41 trom the back ot the closure disk carrier, so releasing the closure and allowing it to be blown open by the gaseous pressure contained within the treatment chamber. The cam is rotated to spread the checking beams 49 apart by the upward movement of a plunger G1 working in a cylinder 62, oil or water pressure being supplied to said cylinder to force said plunger upward at .the appropriate moment to ei'i'ect release of the chamber elosure. The plunger carries a rack 60 which gears into a pinion 59 ixed or cut on` a lateral extension of the cam 55. The `cian and lli) ino

the plunger' 61 are reset in the' low position manually by means of a hand crank applied to the squared end 57 of the spindle.

100-is an accumulator adapted for carrying water or oil under high pressure. 87 is a drain box at the footJ of the gage, and 101 is a piping T connection. 97 is a pump for forcing oil or water into said accumulator 100. 99 is a control valve or check valve in the connecting service pipe 98. Water or koil from the accumulator 100 is conveyed through the pipe line 78, which includes a control valve 102, a gage 103, and a relief valve 79, to the cylinder 63. 80 is the evacuating pipe from said cylinder 63, and 104 is a valve thereon. The valves 102-104 are preferably interlocked. Pressure liquid is taken from the accumulator 100 through the pipe line 81, including the control valve 105 and the gage 106, to the lock releasing cylinder 62, and liquid is evacuated yfrom said cylinder through the pipe 82 and the control valve 107, the valves 105-107 being preferably interlocked. 95 is a water sump, 94 is a pipe therefrom to the water cylinder 93 of a steam pump 91-93, the steam cylinder 91 of which is supplied with steam from any appropriate source through a pipe 92. Water is supplied at a uniform rate from the pump cylinder 93 through the pipe line 96 into the coils of the flash boiler 90, in which said water is converted to steam and thesteam lhighly superheated. The superheated steam passes by the pipe line 76 and the controlV valve 89 to the breech hole 74 in the base block 13; 88 being a pressure indicator. 7 7 is an evacuating pipe connecting through a muzzle ,block 12 into the bore of the treatment chamber.` 84 is a control valve in said pipe line, and 86 is another control valve at the tail end of said pipe line. The end portion of the evacuating pipe 77 may be coiled in the uptake 85 of the boiler flue, so that the waste gases and vapors may absorb heat from said flue when they are utilizedy for vpreheating water for the generator which suppliesv the pump 91, or for any other purpose.

110 is a thermometer having its bulb set in a cup .109 "at the head of a copper rod which is wrapped in heat insulating material and is tapped at the foot into the metal substance of the chamber 25. The thermometer scale is marked after test to indicate the temperature existing within the chamber.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows z--The chamber being opened, as seen in Figs. 1, 2, 5, and 6, is heated up by passing electrical current through the wire coils until the interior of the chamber shows just visibly a dark red color. A charge 108 of wheat which has not been subjected to an preliminary treatment, except supercia cleaning when y,such cleaning is thought desirable, is now introduced into the chamber so as to occupy from half to three-fourths its capacity. The charge should be intro-y the carrier 17 and bringing the closure disk' 18 against the grometed muzzle of the chamber. In this upward movement the latch lugs 46 on nthe yoke member 44 are forced upward, spreading the chocking beams 49 apart until the underfaces of said lugs 46 come level with the top plane of the chocking beams 49. Immediately this position is attained, the beams 49 are moved inwardly by the springs 53 and take under the latch lugs 46 as shown inFigs. 4 and 8, thus locking the yoke and the parts sustained by it against downward movement. In this upward movement, the springs 45 are compressed against the abutment member 30 below the muzzle block. To set the parts ready for discharge at a later stage, the water pressure in the cylinder 63 is released so that the plunger 64 comes down to the position shown in Fig. 3. The valve 84 being now opened, superheated steam 1s admitted to the chamber 25 by the pipe line 76, by operating the valve 89, the valve 86 being at this time closed. Almost immediately after the valve 89 has been opened to admit steam to the chamber 25 the valve 84 is closed, but suiiicient time has elapsed in the two or three seconds interval to allow most of the air and a considerable portion of vthe vapor evolved from the wheat to be evacuated from the chamber through the pipe 77. The supply of superheated steam through the valve 89 is continued for a period not exceeding in all about fifteen seconds, results'varying in degree being found in superheated steam treatment ranging between ten seconds and twenty seconds. A period of -treatment ofvthirty seconds or more is excessive and would produce a charred and totally useless product. Finally the valve 86v is opened and the superheated -steam which is emitted through it is condensed and utilized according to requirements. Simultaneously, or almost so, with the closing of the valve 89 the valve 105 is operated to admit pressure liquid from the accumulator 100 into the cylinder 62, the upward movement of the rack 60 under pressure of the plunger 61 immediately reversing the position of the cam 55, thus moving apart the chocking beams 49 which sustained the yoke member 44 and through it held the chamber closure assembly locked. The

springs 45l then. reacting, force the yoke 44 suddenly downward. As soon as the downward movement commences, it is assisted by the opening tendency of the carrier 17 which .is forced downward by the gaseous pressure within the chamber, so that a very rapid opening of the chamber takes place; the

whole ofthe grain contained in the chamber being immediately ejected and dispersed in 4the atmosphere in the front and about the front `of .the chamber, and the closure disk 'and carrier being brought to rest on' the abutment roller 4l. To facilitate collection of the product, an appropriate coarse gage screen should be erected around the front of the chamber, so that the ejected product will'be caught in said'screen and may then be readily collected. The rapid downward movement of the yoke 44 in this opening action is buffered on the springs 69. 47 are guide lugs, and 48 guide pins therein for carr ing the yoke 44 into the required plane during its vertical movement inthe shutting and opening of the chamber closure.

That the electrical heating chamber device by which the temperature within it is maintained about the required point, while the most convenient-device known to me for that purpose, is not ythe only device which may be so used. For instance,the chamber 25Vmay be placed in the flue of a furnace which is provided with appropriate thermostat eontrolleddampers to insure uniformity of temperature, or it may be heated by gas flames acting externally upon it. What l claim as my'inventionand desire to `secure by Letters Patent is 1; Apparatusvfor the processing of grain under high temperature andv high pressure consisting ofa Vbarrel-like chamber open at one'end, aclosure Vdisk coacting with a soft metal ring to seal the open end of said chamber, alhingedramp-back carrier holding said disk in anaccommodating seating, a. pair of links hung at one end on eccentric sleeves rotatably ,fitted on fixed trunnions, a yoke connecting the outer ends of lsaid links and adapted/to take against the carrier ramp therebyto presslthe closure disk home on the chamber mouth, lever arms on said eceentricfsleeves with vmeans for moving said levers `to vary thetension on said links, a member carrying said links at points near said ramp yoke.l means for moving saidy niember to bring said links to locked position and to force the closure carrier to locked position, means for holding said links in such locked position, means for disengaging said locking means and for releasing said member from locked position, and means for heating said chamber and for supplying superheated steam thereto.

Q. japparatus as set forth in claim l, havingthe link lifting member litt-ed with a spring which is compressed in the locking movement and is adapted to force said member to open position whenit is unlocked, and spring buffers adapted to cushion the opening movement of said member.

3. Apparatus as set forth in claim l, having` the link lifting member fitted with latch lugs, spring closed pawls engageable with said link lifting member when it is in locked position, mechanical means for bringing said member to locked position, spring means acting reversely for bringing said member to open position, and manually operated means for releasing said locking pawls.

4. In apparatus of the type described in which the chamber closure is held closed by bridle links, means for adjusting the tension on said links so as to procure the appropriate closure holding pressure when the latch pawls engage the link lifting means, said tensioning means consisting of pivotal carriers for said links fixed on the chamber body, eccentrically mounted bushings on said carriers, and lever means for angularly adjusting said bushings on said carriers.

5. ln apparatus of the type described, a closure disk supported on a self adjusting carrier having a hinge arm and pintle and slet support, a ramp back on said carrier.I bridle links coacting with said rainpto force the disk on the chamber mouth face, spring means for buffering sudden movement of said closure and said bridle links in the Opening of the chamber, and means for unlocking and eifeeting sudden release of the closure holding means adapted to allow the closure disk to move rapidly away from the chamber mouth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

CHARLES VICTOR HOWELL.

Cil 

